What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chicopee	North Reading
People
Population	55,295Highest	15,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA
	North Reading and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Chicopee and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Lowest 36% below MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.3%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 27% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#247 of 282 in MA	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Chicopee	North Reading
High school in town	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.